Improvement in pedal attachments for pianos



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Pedal-Attachment fur Pianoss.

C. W. HELD,

Patented lan. 14,187

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UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

onAELEs w. HELD, JR, AND ALPHONSO M. BAUGH, 0E BROOKLYN, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT lN PEDAL ATTACHMENTS FOR PIANOS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 134,886, dated January 14, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES W. HELD, Jr., and ALPHONSO M. BAUGH, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Childs Foot-Best and Pedal Attachment for Pianos, of which the following is a specification:

Our invention consists of a vertical bar adjustably attached to the pedal-frame, with a vertically-adj ustable foot-rest supported on it, having pedals-upon it and rods extending from the pedals down upon the ordinary pedals through suitable guides, and having certain controllingsprings, all constituting a very simple and efficient attachment, to enable children to work the pedals, and so contrived as not in any manner to interfere with the working of them by adults without the attachment.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of our improved attachment and the pedal-frame of a piano. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of Fig. 1 taken on the line a m. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line y 2 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 4L is a horizontal section of Fig. 1 on the line 2 2 looking upward.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A represents the pedal-frame, and B the pedals belonging to a piano. 0 represents a vertical bar detachably connected to this frame at the middle of the front, preferably by a slotted end, D, embracing a stud-screw, E, at the bottom, and a soeketed piece, F, and a binding-screw, G, at the upper end; but we do not limit ourselves to any particular way, except that it be so that the bar can be readily put on and taken off. H represents a footrest fixed on this vertical bar by a mortised piece, I, and a binding-screw, K, so as to be shifted up and down and fastened at any point. L represents pedals pivoted to this foot-rest at M, suitably for being worked by a player of short stature, in the same manner that the ordinary pedals are worked by a taller one. N represents a rod under each pedal L, extending down through the footrest onto one of the pedals B also passing through a guiding-support, O, projecting from the bar 0, so that the pedals B can be worked by pedals L, through the medium of said rods. The holes P through the foot-rest are slightly elongated, as shown in Fig. 4, to allow them to swing forward and backward with the motion of the pedals L, and springs are arranged to keep them forward against the inner ends of the holes to facilitate this action. They are also used to hold the rods up off the pedals B, by pressing them against the guide-supports and the foot-rest, when the instrument is to be used by a performer requiring the lower pedals. The sticks N will be longer or shorter, as demanded by the stature of the child for whom the instrument is to be prepared, different sticks being used when the foot-rest has to be shifted; but as persons differing considerably in height can use the foot-rest and secondary pedals in one position, it will not generally be necessary to change them for one family.

The foot-rest H is in this example made with the front part H separate, and adjustable toward and from it, being provided with bars Q sliding in the dovetail lugs R and rests S on the bars T.

The object of this adjustment is to adapt a rest of small size to the requirements of large children, and yet have it so it can be pushed in out of the way of one using the pedals B.

It will be readily perceived that this simple attachment can be applied to a piano by merely screwing on the soeketed piece F and fitting in the screwE; also that being applied the instrument is alike adapted to fullgrown persons or small children; also that to put the attachment on or take it off requires mere ly the manipulating the screws G and E, besides presenting or removing the bar 0; and also that the foot-rest attachment bears such relation to the pedals L that the feet of the player are supported in the same manner that they are supported by the floor when acting upon the ordinary pedals B, so that the ankle-joints only need be worked, which is of great importance to the performer.

If preferred the rods may extend up through the pedals L, provided with holes for the purpose, and be connected by a connecting device capable of shifting, so that one set of! 2. The foot-rest H having an extensionrodswill do for any height of the pedals. piece, H, substantially as specified.

Having thus described our invention, we CHAS. W. HELD, JR. claim as new and desire to secure by Letters ALPHONSO M. BAUGH. Patent- 1. The combination of the bar 0, foot'rest Witnesses: H, pedals L, and rods N with a piano forte, T. B. MOSHER, the said bar 0 being detachably connected, ALEX. T. ROBERTS.

substantially in the manner described. 

